tones
Tones deaf
Never seen the series, Tony, but thanks for the mention, I'll look out for it.The multi-part BBC series on ‘The Troubles’ was a real eye-opener for me. It certainly proved at least as many links between the DUP/UDF/UDA etc and terrorism/murders as SF/IRA. The British state came out smelling remarkably unlike roses too. The whole thing is a bloody mess, as tribalism/nationalism always is.
That aside SF are unquestionably a exponentially less authoritarian, religiously bigoted, blinkered and homophobic party than the DUP, and that is what they should be judged on today.
As you say, the whole situation is perverse, which is why neither Ireland nor the UK really wants it - as I've said before, they'd be much happier if it joined its most famous creation at the bottom of the Atlantic. And nobody's hands are clean (with the honourable exception of the regrettably late John Hume). However, collusion and collaboration is one thing, being dictated to by a non-elected body is quite another. And the evidence is strong that this is what is happening between SF and the IRA.
Yes, the policies of SF are more progressive than those of the knuckle-draggers on the Loyalist side, but the days of those knuckle-draggers are numbered - by their actions and attitudes, they are becoming less relevant. As somebody said, the DUP has done more to advance the cause of Irish unity in the last 5 years than did 50 years of IRA terrorism. And when their time is up, they will disappear. However, again to quote Gerry Adams on the IRA, "They haven't gone away, y'know". And they won't quietly go away, which is what makes SF in government so potentially problematic.